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252 CORRESPONDENCE OF
struck with Heidelberg and the magnificence of its
ruined castle. How much has been done in Europe, even in the despotic states, for the comfort and convenience of the mass of the population—I mean particularly in the abundance of public fountains, and the variety and beauty very often of public gardens. In Switzerland every town abounds with proofs of an attention to the comfort of the lower orders and no where more than in aristocratic Berne. How little has been yet done for the same object in America.—It is not difficult to perceive the reasons of the difference, yet I always felt a sort of humiliation whenever I saw it. Our latest accounts of Europe show everything unsettled there. The loss of the Reform bill will agitate England to the center. I hope the Whigs will be able to restrain their friends the mob— any violence which shall cause the shedding of blood can- not fail, I should think, to strengthen their adversaries. The necessity of employing soldiers would alienate their radical friends, while it would alarm the timid of their own men of property. I think the bill, with very little diminution, if any, of its efficiency, must pass at last. I have no fear of* the consequences—I firmly believe the aristocracy of England, including in that term the landed interest of the gentry, will be quite able to set bounds to the Revolution, and to maintain their own fair share of power. France seems very far from secure in her revolu- tion—but what she is to come to is a very difficult ques- tion.—I was astonished at your saying "you thought a restoration highly probable"—I had not the least idea the Carlists could be so strong as to give the least chance of such an event. I was always inclined to the opinion that the wisest course, at the beginning, was to have left the crown to the young duke of Bordeaux, making the Duke |
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